Lauderdale County authorities say a three-year-old boy was shot in the leg Thursday evening in what appears to be an accident.

According to a Lauderdale County investigator, the incident happened at about 7 p.m. in the Center Hill community.

A child found a gun in the center console of a vehicle parking at a residence while his mother was distracted.

The boy fired a shot and was injured in the leg.

The boy was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville where he underwent surgery Friday morning.